Portable tooth cleaner

ABSTRACT

A hand-held, motor driven cleaning cup, wherein torque is delivered from the motor to the cup by a flexible torsion cable to allow the axis of rotation of the cup to be substantially at a right angle to the spin axis of the motor.

Wit States Patent 1 1 Hopkins 1451 Sept. 11, 1973 PORTABLE TOOTH CLEANER[76] Inventor: Billy C. Hopkins, P.O. Box 817,

' Quincy, Calif. 95971 [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,562

52 us. (:1. 32/59 1511 1m. (:1.

[58] Field of Search 32/59, 58, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,579,835 Levenson 32/58Chott 32/59 Kidokoro et al 32/27 Primary Examiner-Louis G. ManceneAssistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney-Ernest L. Brown [57] ABSTRACT Ahand-held, motor driven cleaning cup, wherein torque is delivered fromthe motor to the cup by a flexible torsion cable to allow the axis ofrotation of the cup to be substantially at a right angle to the spinaxis of the motor.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PORTABLE TOOTH CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION through a right angle. Although such transmissions areexcellent, they are relatively expensive and not convenient for homeuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus contemplated by thisinvention is a self-contained motor-driven gearless rotary cleaner forhome dental care. The apparatus preferably has a detachable rotatingsoft disposable rubber cup which is superior to a brush in the care ofthe hard and soft tissues of the mouth.

in a preferred embodiment of the invention, rotary torque generated byan electric motor, contained in the handle of the unit, is transmittedto a disposable cleaning cup by a flexible cable passing through a,preferably metal, housing tube having, preferably, a 90 degree curvedbend atthe working end. The metal is prefera bly covered with a plasticthat is not chemically active with the saliva of the mouth. I It istherefore an object of this invention to clean teeth.

It is an'important object of this invention to clean teeth while, atreduced speed, massaging their investing tissuesx p It is a morespecific object of this invention to provide a hand-held portable toothcleaner.

1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Otherobjects will become apparentfrom thefollow ing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,.in which: i

FIG. 1 is a profile view, with a portion broken away and in section, ofthe apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view'of the apparatus, showing connection of, theflexibledrive cable :to the drive motor; I

FIG. 3 is a sectionalview of thedriving end coupler for the flexibledrive cable;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the receiving or-working end of theflexible cable, showing its attachment to the cleaning cupi and I FIG. 5shows a typical power plug, partly in section, useful for supplyingpower to the apparatus of this invention. I

.An electric motorfl0 is enclosed .within a handle 12..

The motor '10 may be driven by energy from a battery I4 enclosed-withinthe handle 12. If the batteries 14 are rechargeable, they may berecharged through the cord 16 and plugs 62 and 64 from an energy source(not shown). An on-off switch 17 may be used to control electric powerdelivered to the motor 10.

A flexible cable 18 is attached by a coupler 20 to the spinning driveshaft (not shown) of the motor 10. The working end of the cable 18 isattached, preferably by an attaching member 22, to a tooth cleaningmember 24. The coupler 20 is preferably a slip coupler which slips whentoo heavy a load is placed on the coupler,

thereby avoiding injury to the user and damage to the motor.

To guide the cable 18 and position the cleaning member 24, housing tube26, preferably fabricate of metal, surrounds the cable and extends fromthe handlehousing 12 to the cleaning member 24, forming a hookshapedconfiguration to cause the cable 18 to bend through, preferably but notnecessarily, substantially a right angle from the axis of the spin ofthe motor 10. To

accommodate the flexible cable 18 into a right angled bend while stillkeeping the cleaning cup 24 reasonably near the axis of the housing 12,the hook-shaped configuration preferably extends outward from thehousing 12 substantially along the axis of the housing 12, as at 26a,has a curvature in a first direction as at 26b, then on the distal endhas a curvature in a second direction as at 26c. The describedcurvatures are substantially coplanar as shown in FIG. I.

The metal housing tube 26 is preferably enclosed within a plasticcovering 28, such plastic being preferable to metal to avoid chemicalaction with the saliva of the mouth, and avoiding electric shocks to theuser. Alternatively it is within the contemplation of this inventionthat the tube 26 also could be made of such chemically inert material. 7

The coupler 28 has a flange 30 which spins upon a plastic thrust bearing32 which is formed on one end of the cover 28. The cover 28 is enlargedon the thrust bearing end 32, and it is enclosed by the end 34 of thehousing 12. The housing 12 is held to the motor-battery assembly by thescrews 36. I

The outer end of the'flexible cable 18 rotates on a bearing surface 38in a screwed on washer 40.The washer 40 has an annular spacer elementbetween the metallic housing 26 and the bearing surface 38. The washer40 is screwed onto the cover 28 at the threads 42.

The attaching member 22 for attaching the rubber cleaning cup 24, orother cleaning apparatus, is preferably formed in the shape of an ovalbutton 44 attached by a stem 46 to asubstantially flat collar 48.

The cleaning cup 24, which may be a conventional one, has a shank 50with an inner surface resiliently gripping the button 44 and abuttingthe collar 48. The inner surface is shaped in the general shape of afrustum of a cone. The outer surface of the cleaning cup in the cleaningportion 52 is conically shaped and outwardly flared. An opening 54 isadapted to receive the dentifrice and hold it in place by fins orfluting. The

, wall in the region 52 tapers, becoming thinner at its 1 Spinning ofthe coupler22 causes the outer end whichenhances its flexibility.

In operation, when electric energy is delivered from the battery 14 tothe motor 10, the motor 10 drives the coupler 20. The coupler 20,attached to the flexible cable 18, spins on the bearing surface 30 anddelivers torque and angular spin to the cable 18. Spinning of the cup,usually with dentifrice therein, is applied to the a teeth and gums,cleaning them.

Thus, the apparatus of this invention is a selfcontained motor-drivengearless rotary cleaner for home dental care. Such apparatus is adaptedto provide economical professional style cleaning of the teeth in thehome.

Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is notintended that the invention shall be limited by that description, butonly in accordance with that description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In combination:

a motor housing;

a tubular housing having a flexible cable therein, said housing having afirst portion extending outwardly from said motor housing, a secondportion curved from the axis of said first portion, and a distal portionsubstantially coplanar with said first and second portions and having acurvature opposite to the curvature of said second portion to cause theaxes of said first portion and the distal end of said distal portion tobe substantially at right angles, whereby said housing reduces cablefriction and allows access to all of the surfaces of the teeth of auser;

said tubular housing beind enclosed with a covering of material which ischemically inert in the presence of saliva;

said flexible cable being attached to be driven by said motor; and

a cleaning member rotatably attached to the distal end of said tubularhousing and connected the be driven by said flexible cable.

. 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said chemically inertmaterial is a plastic material.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 and further comprising a slipconnector on the outer end of said cable cleaning member is a dentalcleaning cup.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 and further comprising a detachablecoupler for connecting said motor to said cable.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 in which said detachable coupler is aslip coupler.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which said motor isbattery-driven, and further comprising a battery enclosed within saidmotor housing.

8. In combination:

a handle-housing;

an electric motor enclosed within said housing;

a housing tube enclosing a flexible cable from one end to the other ofsaid tube, said tube extending from one end of said housing thencecurving in a first direction, thence into a second direction opposite tosaid first direction in a hook-shaped configuration to cause the distalend of said housing tube to have an axis substantially at a right angleto the axis of its proximal end, whereby said housing tube reduces cablefriction and allows access to all of the surfaces of the teeth of auser;

'means for coupling said cable, on a first end thereof,

to said motor for rotation therewith; and

attaching means on the second end of said cable, for

attaching a dental cleaning member.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a cover forsaid housing tube and said handlehousing, fabricated of a material whichis chemically inert to saliva.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which said means for coupling isa slip coupling.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 in which said attaching means isadapted to attach a dental cleaning cup to be driven by said cable.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11 in which said attaching means isshaped as an oval button, attached by a stem to a substantially flatcollar.

1. In combination: a motor housing; a tubular housing having a flexiblecable therein, said housing having a first portion extending outwardlyfrom said motor housing, a second portion curved from the axis of saidfirst portion, and a distal portion substantially coplanar with saidfirst and second portions and having a curvature opposite to thecurvature of said second portion to cause the axes of said first portionand the distal end of said distal portion to be substantially at rightangles, whereby said housing reduces cable friction and allows access toall of the surfaces of the teeth of a user; said tubular housing beindenclosed with a covering of material which is chemically inert in thepresence of saliva; said flexible cable being attached to be driven bysaid motor; and a cleaning member rotatably attached to the distal endof said tubular housing and connected the be driven by said flexiblecable.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said chemically inertmaterial is a plastic material.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 andfurther comprising a slip connector on the outer end of said cable forattaching said cleaning member to said cable for turning therewith. 4.Apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which said cleaning member is adental cleaning cup.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 and furthercomprising a detachable coupler for connecting said motor to said cable.6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 in which said detachable coupler is aslip coupler.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which said motor isbattery-driven, and further comprising a battery enclosed within saidmotor housing.
 8. In combination: a handle-housing; an electric motorenclosed within said housing; a housing tube enclosing a flexible cablefrom one end to the other of said tube, said tube extending from one endof said housing thence curving in a first direction, thence into asecond direction opposite to said first direction in a hook-shapedconfiguration to cause the distal end of said housing tube to have anaxis substantially at a right angle to the axis of its proximal end,whereby said housing tube reduces cable friction and allows access toall of the surfaces of the teeth of a user; means for coupling saidcable, on a first end thereof, to said motor for rotation therewith; andattaching means on the second end of said cable, for attaching a dentalcleaning member.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and furthercomprising a cover for said housing tube and said handle-housing,fabricated of a material which is chemically inert to saliva. 10.Apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which said means for coupling is aslip coupling.
 11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 in which saidattaching means is adapted to attach a dental cleaning cup to be drivenby said cable.
 12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11 in which saidattaching means is shaped as an oval button, attached by a stem to asubstantially flat collar.